On Feb 2nd, 2010, the FDA filed an appeal of the injunction and was granted a stay of the injunction until the Appeal Board reviews the case. This means that the FDA can once again stop the importation of electronic cigarettes from these suppliers until the appeal board makes a ruling.

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BEFORE: Ginsburg, Henderson, and Rogers, Circuit Judges

O R D E R
Upon consideration of the emergency motion for stay pending appeal and for immediate temporary stay pending this court’s consideration; and the motion to strike the emergency motion, it is
ORDERED that the motion to strike be denied. It is
FURTHER ORDERED that the district court’s order entered January 14, 2010, granting appellees’ motions for injunctive relief, be stayed pending further order of the court. The purpose of this administrative stay is to give the court sufficient opportunity to consider the merits of the emergency motion for stay pending appeal and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of that motion
It is FURTHER ORDERED that appellees file and serve a joint response by 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 4, 2010, and appellants file and serve any reply by 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 8, 2010. The parties are directed to hand-deliver the paper copies of their submissions to the court by the time and date due.

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So, as ordered by the appeals court, Njoy and Smoking Everywhere filed a response on February 4th, 2010.

Page 12:
FDA also asserts that it has jurisdiction under the FDCA because ecigarettes are intended to “prevent or alleviate nicotine withdrawal symptoms,” and, thus, are intended for therapeutic use. The District Court rejected this claim as a matter of fact. The “intended use” of a product is determined by “the objective intent of the persons legally responsible” for labeling the product.

Page 17:
Although FDA acknowledges that it has not provided this Court with the “benefit of specific evidence of the dangers posed by [e-cigarettes],” it insists that “the threat to the public health is apparent” and cannot seriously be questioned. That argument is meritless. FDA cannot prevail with vague allegations of potential harm; rather, it must prove a likelihood of irreparable harm to warrant a stay.

Although e-cigarettes have been sold since 2007, FDA has not identified a
single instance, either in this Court or below, of an adverse health effect from ecigarettes.

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The response from these electronic cigarette suppliers clearly outlines why they should be given an injunction:
1) Just because a product delivers nicotine, doesn’t mean it is a new drug…….if that was the case, tobacco cigarettes would be new drugs.
2) No therapeutic claims have been made by the suppliers.
3) Allowing the FDA to stop importation while the case is pending will do economic harm to the companies involved in the case.
4) The FDA has no evidence that electronic cigarettes pose any harm to the public.

Here are a few excerpts of the FDA argument for the stay of the injunction:

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The Court in Brown & Williamson invalidated a rule that would have, for the first time, asserted FDA jurisdiction over cigarettes and smokeless tobacco as customarily marketed. As plaintiffs do not dispute, the selling point of their product is precisely that it is “NOT a real cigarette, there is NO real smoke, flame, tar or tobacco.”

The danger posed by the unrestricted distribution of unregulated products containing toxic chemicals cannot seriously be questioned. Even apart from the acute health risks that these products pose, there is no dispute that the nicotine is “a highly addictive pharmacological agent.”

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The response from the FDA argues that the injunction should be stayed because:
1) Electronic cigarettes contain nicotine and are not tobacco cigarettes
2) It can interpret the new Tobacco Act as it sees fit, i.e. include or exclude the electronic cigarette from this Act.
3) Electronic cigarettes are marketed to kids and may pose danger

Here is my response:
1) Nicotine is not a substance only sold to treat nicotine addiction. Nicotine is regularly sold for recreational purposes in many forms, not just tobacco cigarettes.
2) The FDA is bound by law, just as every citizen and company in the United States.
3) There is no evidence that electronic cigarettes are marketed to minors or that they have, or will, harm anyone.

So where are we at?

THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA is reviewing the case, including the submitted responses and deciding if the FDA can continue to stop shipments of electronic cigarettes into the United States while the case is pending.

It will be an outrage if the Appeals Court allows the FDA to try to end the lawsuit via financial sabotage. Money should not interpret the law…..judges should.

2 Responses to The Legal Battle Over Electronic Cigarette Continues

[…] and NJoy an injunction against the FDA to stop them from seizing anymore shipments. UPDATE: The FDA appealed Judge Leon’s injunction and the Court of Appeals granted a temporary stay of … while they review the […]

the Electronic cigarettes are not being sold to children and require a license proving that the purchaser is of legal age. I was at a kios in the mall and they all require ID. That statement is the FDA’s pathetic excuse for trying to squeeze millions out of this deal. Wish our FDA actually had concerns for the publics health. this is strickly a healthier alternative to smoking tobacco which kills more people every year than all the causes of death combined. The Propyl Glycal crap is also pathetic since the ratio of Propyl glycol in regular cigarettes contains 100% to e cigs which is 1%. But keep cigarettes from being banned: sure. Hows that $350,000,000 payoff from philip morris doing for there pockets. ran out already. looking for more. Keep killing americans FDA, if this product gets banned then they just murdered millions of Americans in my opinion. Also continue to approve pharmacueticals that make people suicidal. But ban E cigarettes. makes a lot of sense.